From diabetes control to nutrition: The many benefits of jackfruit

'Jackfruit can even bear fruit at the roots if needed,' says a popular Malayalam proverb, highlighting the fruit's abundance and usefulness. Although Kerala declared jackfruit as its official state fruit in 2018, it has not received the attention and recognition it deserves. Jackfruit is a natural, pesticide-free food, and almost every part of it except the stalk is edible. Kerala produces around 14.3 lakh tonnes of jackfruit every year, but only about 200,000 tonnes are consumed.

A study led by Dr B. Padmakumar, former Principal of Alappuzha Medical College, on the medicinal value of jackfruit was published in an international medical journal. Another research study was initiated by James Joseph, former India Director at Microsoft, after several people reported that regular consumption of jackfruit helped reduce their blood sugar levels. Jackfruit is considered beneficial for people with diabetes and is also the national fruit of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. India is the world's largest producer of jackfruit, with an annual production of about 1.4 million tonnes. Bangladesh ranks second, followed by Thailand, Indonesia and Nepal.

Helps manage diabetes

Jackfruit is believed to help manage diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure. Raw jackfruit and jackfruit seeds are especially considered beneficial for controlling blood sugar levels and improving digestion. The fruit is rich in vitamins A, B and C, as well as potassium and dietary fibre, making it a nutritious addition to a healthy diet.

A wide variety of tasty dishes

Jackfruit is used in a wide range of traditional and modern recipes. Popular dishes include boiled jackfruit, jackfruit ada, jackfruit chips, jackfruit biryani, jackfruit ice cream, jackfruit payasam, jackfruit wine, jackfruit seed shake and jackfruit halwa.